Expert: Jack Toomey - 12/18/2007

Question
Hello I'm Carl and I am currently looking at all my possible career choices and have decided to look more closely into law enforcement.
Background info:
currently studying in my final year of school in hampshire, england. Set to get around 8 GCSEs All at least a B grade.
Going to college next year (starting sept 2008)
and most likely studying: Maths, Computing, Psychology, Musics and phsyics at English "A-level".

I am unsure whether to go to university at the moment but if I do I would like to study Psychology with another Subject as a double Major or a major with joint honours.
Also I have no police record.

My aspiration is to become a law enforcement officer in the U.S particularly part of an armed response team. I understand that SWAT and similar teams are extremely hard to find a place in but I beleive I would be happy as a normal officer/sargeant in the police force if I was not able to.
I have read various other questions and had a few of my own.

1. Is it worth going to university and getting a degree?
2. Do you have to have U.S citizenship for every line of law enforcement in America?
3. Would the FBI/ a police force hire me/ help me get a green card to legally work in the states?

Any advice will be much appreciated thanks.

Answer
Carl,

  It is certainly worth your while to get a degree from the university because some departments require it and if you don't get hired then you have something to fall back on.

  Most United States police departments require that a prospective candidate be a United States citizen although there was just something in the news where a police chief, on one department, was questioning that requirement and wondering if new officers could be residents who have taken steps to become citizens.

  I would doubt seriously if the FBI would hire you if you were not a citizen.

   You are aware that to become a SWAT officer that you would first spend years on the street as a uniformed officer before you would ever be considered for that position.  And let me give you a tip.  Don't ever mention that you are applying to a police department with the goal of becoming a SWAT officer because it sends the wrong message and you might be washed out before you get to far in the hiring process.